- Closed for the season
- £8.50 adult · £5 child
- Assistance dogs only
- Parking on site
- Historic Environment Scotland
Quick answer
Smailholm Tower is currently closed for the season. Part of the main path to the tower is closed while the area recovers from earlier works; walk is more difficult. Smailholm Tower is a tower house near St Boswells, Scottish Borders, managed by Historic Environment Scotland. Adult tickets cost £8.50, and Historic Environment Scotland members go free. Only assistance dogs are allowed. There is a car park on site, about 190 m from the entrance.
Smailholm Tower opening times
- Mon 12 Not listed
- Tue 13 Not listed
- Wed 14 Not listed
- Thu 15 Not listed
- Fri 16 Not listed
- Today Sat 17 Not listed
- Sun 18 Not listed
| Season | Dates | Days | Hours | Last entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 1 Apr to 30 Sep | Mon Fri to Sun | 10:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 16:30 10:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 16:30 | 30 min before close |
Open Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00-16:30, 1 Apr-30 Sep; closed for lunch 12:00-13:00; last entry 30 min before closing (page also says 4pm). Closed 1 Oct-31 Mar.
Opening times change with the season and can change at short notice. Check the official site before you travel.
Smailholm Tower tickets and prices
| Ticket | Online | On the day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £7.50 | £8.50 |
| Concession | £6 | £6.80 |
| Child | £4.50 | £5 |
| Historic Environment Scotland members | Free | Free |
Getting to Smailholm Tower and parking
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- Address
- TD5 7PG
- Parking
- Car park on site. Small level crushed-stone parking area, no marked accessible bays; reached through Sandyknowe Farm over two cattle grids. About 190 m to the entrance.
- By train
- Tweedbank is 7.1 miles away.
Dogs, accessibility and facilities
Dogs
Assistance dogs only- Pet dogs: not allowed.
- Assistance dogs: welcome.
- Facilities list: no dogs except assistance dogs.
Accessibility
Not step-free- Step-free: no step-free access.
- Paths and surfaces: 190m earth path from car park (gradients 1:20 then 1:9), muddy in wet weather; visitor centre has a step; tower via 63-step narrow spiral stair.
- Accessible toilet: no.
Food and facilities
- Audio guide Yes
What to see at Smailholm Tower
- 01
Great hall
The main hall, used for feasts and ceremony.
- 02
Exhibition
Displays and exhibitions to see.
- 03
Views
Notable views from the site.
History of Smailholm Tower
- 1544 Two raids by Northumberland reivers take over 700 cattle and 100 horses
- 1645 Scotts of Harden buy the tower and estate
- 1771 Walter Scott born; later sent to Smailholm/Sandyknowe as an infant
- 1802 Scott publishes Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
- 1832 Scott visits shortly before his death
- 1971 Anne Carrick's costumed figures created for Scott's bicentenary
Photos
-
Colin Park · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source -
Colin Park · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source
Castles near Smailholm Tower
All 64 castles in ScotlandFAQs
When is Smailholm Tower open?
In the summer season it opens Monday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00. Check the opening times above for the other seasons and closed dates.
How much does it cost to visit Smailholm Tower?
Adult tickets cost £8.50, and Historic Environment Scotland members go free.
Sources
- Page on api.postcodes.io
- Page on historicenvironment.scot
- Page on historicenvironment.scot
- Page on portal.historicenvironment.scot
- Page on historicenvironment.scot
We are independent and not affiliated with Historic Environment Scotland. Prices and times can change at short notice, so check the operator's site on the day. How we check our data